W-Wow / Makin' Whoopee

Released in 1961 on the Felsted label, this 45 rpm single features Charlie Gracie, a Philadelphia-born rock and roll pioneer who gained significant fame in the late 1950s with hits like Butterfly. By the time this record was issued, the rock and roll landscape was shifting, and the production sought to bridge Gracie’s rockabilly roots with the more polished, pop-oriented sensibilities of the early sixties.

The record pairs W-Wow, a high-energy track characteristic of Gracie’s style, with a version of the jazz standard Makin' Whoopee. These tracks were crafted to showcase Gracie's vocal versatility and his ability to adapt to changing radio formats. While Gracie remained a respected figure in the rockabilly community, this release reflects the broader efforts of artists from the initial rock and roll wave to sustain their careers as the industry transitioned toward the girl-group and surf-rock sounds of the coming years.